Saturday, February 23, 2008

So Jesus lived a sinless life. Is that truly possible? We say the Jesus is fully man and fully God. Well if he is fully man then wouldn't he sin by his own words? Jesus says in Matthew 5 :27-28, "You have heard that it was said, 'Do not commit adultery.' But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. " Okay women, the cat is out of the bag, guys have lustful thoughts. I know its a shock, but it is true. Let me get the kidding aside.

To be honest this is not just a guy thing, but a human issue. We all have lustful thoughts because sin has entered our DNA. But this is nothing new to us, but who does Jesus who is fully man get a free pass on this?

I heard someone a while ago say this, "It's not like guys lust for every female. You don't lust after your mom or sister, and if your a dad and your reasonably normal don't lust after your daughter." The speakers point was that lust is controllable. If lust is controllable then could Jesus have done this? I would say yes, but there is a better case than that.

Jesus is fully God and was there at the beginning of creation. Matter of fact he had a hand in creation itself. Jesus is creator and therefore every person, every women is his creation. How does he not look at a women lustfully, he is fully God and is their creator and Father.

Why does this matter? Why does Jesus have to live a sinless life? If he doesn't, then he is not the perfect sacrifice for mine or your sins.

Sacrifices had to be blemish free and pure, otherwise they weren't considered for sacrifice. Every year people had to bring their sacrifices and be reminded of there sinful ways. Over and over and over they would go through the process of trying to get right with God. But that is where the beauty comes from what Jesus did on the cross.

We find in Leviticus 17:11 "For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one's life." There is saving power in the blood. Jesus blood was spotless and sinless. Because of that His blood could pay the once and for all atonement for one's life.

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

Over the next several weeks we are going to be taking a look at 8 key elements of the Christian faith. Some may disagree with my list, but this is not an end all be all list. These are what I see as 8 key elements of a Christians faith. There are many other elements to our faith, we are just looking at these 8. If teenagers don't have a good understanding of these they have an 80% higher probability to walking away from their faith after high school and never returning. That number freaks me out. That is why we are looking at them. So here is the list:

1) Jesus Christ lived a sinless life2) God is the all-powerful and all-knowing Creator of the universe and He still rules it today3) Salvation is a gift from God and cannot be earned4) Satan is real5) A Christian has a responsibility to share their faith in Christ with other people6) The Bible is accurate in all of the principles it teaches.7) Unchanging moral truth exists8) Such moral truth is defined by the Bible

Like I said, over the next few months we are going to be looking into this during Revolution, Sunday's 9:15-10:15am @ the Youth Center. I look forward to unpacking these topics with you there and here at the blog.

Wednesday, February 6, 2008

These are some of the things that come to mind when the teens hear the word sin. Sin is such an all encompasing word. It is different things to different people. Sin is not restricted to Christianity, matter of fact, I would say at least 90% of the world population believes in sin and the destruction it plays in our lives. No matter how hard we wrestle, we just can't seem to get rid of it. And that's the whole message of Jesus, "No matter how hard you try, you can't get rid of your sin, but I will."

Isaiah 1:18 says, "Though your sins are like scarlet, they will be white as snow," and also in Jeremiah, "For I will forgive their wickedness adn will remember their sins no more." This is great news, God will forgive us our sins. Let me say that again, God will forgive us our sins! What Jesus did on the cross blows my mind. Not many of us, if any of us, would be willing to die for those that are guilty. But that is exactly what God, through Jesus did, "While we were still sinners, Christ died for us," Romans 5:8.

While I was a sinner, Jesus died for me. We all can say that and we need to say it over and over again. We live in a society where Christians are known more for what we are against than for what we are for. The world hears, "Don't do that, Don't do this..." We, as Christians should not be agents of God's judgement, but rather for God's redemption and forgiveness.

I know that John 3:16 is used over and over, but it is so powerfull, "For God so loved the world that He gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish, but have everlasting life." God loves me, He love you and everyone around you, and everyone around them. Let the Holy Spirit convict hearts, we can then be left to spread God's grace, mercy and forgiveness.

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About Me

I am a husband, a father, a youth pastor, a friend, a son, a brother and a lover of God.
Can I just clear one thing up, God ROCKS! I understand many people don't portray God very well and therefore many people have some pretty crazy ideas of Him. But, He loves us and wants the best for us. It is the figuring out "the best for us" that makes things tough.